New LTE 4G 3G/GSM multiband panel antenna

EAD has today announced the released of the LPP7270, a high gain, directional, outdoor panel antenna covering worldwide LTE, 4G, 3G and GSM frequencies - 690-960/1710-2170/2500-2700 MHz. Housed in a compact, weatherproof radome measuring 260x260x60mm, the LPP7270 offers 7-9 dBi gain across all the bands with a VSWR of less than 1.5:1.

This antenna is terminated in a N-Female connector and requires a jumper cable with N-Male connector.

LPP7270 4G/LTE Multiband Panel Antenna

The mounting bracket is included with the antenna as standard.

This antenna is suitable for providing access to 4G/LTE networks as well as supporting fallback to 3G and 2G GSM services. The antenna will require a jumper cable terminated in a N-Male (plug) - BWL195 and BWL400 offer excellent low loss cable solutions for this antenna.

New multiband TETRA, GSM, WLAN and GPS antennas for roof mount applications

Two new All-in-One TETRA(380-430MHz), GSM/3G/LTE (690-2,500MHz), WiFi (2.4GHz) and GPSL1 (28 dB gain) antennas have been introduced by PCTEL and are distributed by Specialist Antennas. The first model (GPSHP-UWB) has 1 GPS antenna and the second model (DGPSHP-UWB) has 2 GPS antennas to address the multitude of devices in vehicles today.

GPSHP-UWB and DGPSHP-UWB Antenna

These two antennas provide multiband and wideband wiresless capabilities to public safety/blue light services, utility vehicles, buses, security organisations etc.
            With these antennas the following features are enabled:
-    Combining multiple antennas into one unit
-    Provide an single external antenna option to multiple devices inside a vehicle
-    Drill the vehicle roof only once
-    Improved ease of installation
-    Provide flexibility into the number of devices the user can attach

The dual-GPS version was created based on customer feedback as more and more vehicles have more than one GPS receiver for multiple applications (Navigation, synchronization, radar detection, etc.).



We believe that the dual GPS version will prove to be very interesting for the increasing number of vehicle deployments that require multiple GPS antennas. As far as we are aware this is the first off-the-shelf professional grade roof-mount antenna that provides connectivity for 2 GPS devices simultaneously whilst operating alongside TETRA (wideband 380-430 MHz), GSM/3G and Wireless LAN.

For more information please contact Specialist Antennas.

EAD introduces LTE 4G and multiband internal PCB antenna

EAD is pleased to introduce a new multi-band, groundplane independent internal antenna optimised for 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE frequencies. With compact dimensions of 110x21mm (length by width) and thickness of 1.6mm, the SQ7 antenna is typically used internally in a communications product such as an access device, router or fixed or mobile terminal. Supporting worldwide 4G/LTE frequency bands including 700 MHz for North America and 800/2600 MHz for Europe, it is a versatile solution for wireless products.

SQ7 Internal PCB Antenna - 2G, 3G and 4G frequency bands

The SQ7 offers a typical gain of 1.5 dBi across the bands with a maximum VSWR of just over 2:1. As it has its own groundplane, this antenna can operate without the need for additional proximity groundplane, but will need some keep away space inside terminals to ensure it radiates effectively. The SQ7 can be specified with a range of cable/connector configutations including U.FL, SMA, MMCX, GSC and more.

Further information on the SQ7 can be found on the product page.

4G/LTE antennas for access applications

The advent of 4G/LTE wireless services (we'll use the term 4G for the purposes of this article) is an opportunity for many users, who find themselves too far from a local exchange for a decent DSL broadband connection, to access the internet at high speeds.

Armed with a suitable 4G dongle, modem or router, the only thing required to access the 4G network is strong and stable signal. In more urban areas, this may be quite straightforward, however on the edges or fringes of the network, the 4G dongle or router may require more than the standard rubber terminal antenna supplied with the router (or the internal antenna inside the dongle) to faciliate a reliable high speed connection.

Doing a search for external antennas may well bring up a high number of results offering a range of products from low cost, low quality antennas to very expensive, all singing,all dancing solutions. Once you understand the frequency your 4G service is operating at (see my earlier post about 4G frequencies), it is time to look at what options are available to you to improve the signal strength to your 4G device. Here are some of the solutions that we would suggest you consider.

High Gain Directional Panel Antenna - Typically, a multiband (2G/3G/4G) antenna, a directional panel antenna should be compact with a directional radiation pattern. In simple terms, this means the antenna works very much like a TV antenna whereby the panel antenna must be pointed in the direction of the nearest 4G mast to pick up the signal. A popular 2G/3G panel antenna is the SMP-918-9 which is discrete, compact and offers good gain figures (9 dBi) across the band). A wideband 2G/3G/4G panel antenna will be a big bigger as it has to cover more frequencies, but will offer similar gain and performance. An example of this is the LPP7270 from EAD.

High Gain Directional Log Periodic Antenna - A Log Periodic antenna with similar multiband capabilities to the panel antenna will typically offer higher gain than the panel antenna (perhaps 10-11 dBi gain) and will be more lightweight, but is less discrete than the panel. Usually housed in a longer, but thinner radome a 2G/3G/4G LP antenna might have an overall length of approximately 20cm, but can be quite small in terms of width or diameter. Like the panel above, this antenna should be directed at the local 4G mast.

High Gain Omni-Directional Antenna - A high gain omni antenna is usually specified with 4-6 dBi gain across the bands. The best options are antennas that can be either wall or pole-mounted such as the OMNI-3G-GSM or the HGO-3G (4G versions of the antennas will be available soon). The gain of an "omni" antenna is less than a directional antenna, but because the antenna radiates in every direction, it doesn't have to be "aimed" at one 4G mast thereby offering a level of redundancy if there is more than one mast in your area (if one local mast should stop transmitting, then the omni antenna could receive a signal from another local mast).

The three antennas above would usually be mounted outside and fed by low loss RF coaxial cable that is run inside to the 4G device.

High Gain Magnetic Mount  - Suitable for mobile applications or fixed applications, a high gain magnetic antenna should be mounted onto a metal surface i.e. car roof or similar. Such antenna will offer typically a minimum of 4 dBi across the bands and support 2G/3G and 4G frequency bands. Usually terminated with a 3M or 4M cable, this antenna can be supplied with various connector options to mate with 4G popular dongles and routers.

A number of antennas are available to buy online, some with pre-terminated low loss cables and adapter cables, supplied as bundles. Check out www.connextech.co.uk for more information. For more technical data, you can check out www.specialistantennas.co.uk as a useful reference point for the specification sheets on many multiband 2G, 3G and 4G antennas.

3G, 4G, ISM antennas and more available online

Connex Technologies Ltd is an online retailer of antennas, RF cables, RF connectors and access for 3G/4G access, M2M, WLAN and VHF/UHF wireless applications. A sister company of Embedded Antenna Design Ltd and Specialist Antenna Solutions, Connex has a range of products available for purchase online.

Historically, Connex has focused on external high gain antennas for 3G wireless broadband applications offering antennas for Huawei, Sierra Wireless and Option datacards, modems and dongles. With quality products including high gain omni blade antennas and high gain compact directional panel antennas, being able to call-upon in-house assembled cables and pigtails terminated in dongle-specific connectors such as TS9 and CRC9, enables Connex to offer rapid delivery of suitable 3G access antenna bundles.

More recently, Connex has broadened its ranage of antennas to offer a number of clearance antennas i.e. quality antenna products from excess stock now to be sold off at attractive prices. This include mobile antennas for GPS and Multiband applications, VHF/UHF antennas and much more from leading antenna vendors. Clearance antennas include products from EAD, Laird, Smarteq, PCTEL, Sirio and Pulse.

In addition, there is an increasing range of clearance cables and pigtails - popular connectors and connectors on cables available at clearance pricing whilst stock lasts. Included are Murata GSC connectors and pigtails, W.FL to SMA pigtails and single piece adapters.

Introducing a new LTE/4G, 3G, GSM High Gain Magnetic Mobile Antenna

A new magnetic mount, high gain, mobile antenna covering LTE, 4G, 3G and 2G frequency bands is now available. Initally on offer with a CRC9, TS9 connector or simply terminated in a SMA-Male connector, the LTE-HIGAIN-MAG is a robust, low profile antenna based on the Laird Phantom Wideband Cellular antenna the TRA6927M3NW-001. The antenna covers the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz bands therefore covering worldwide cellular frequencies.

The antenna is supplied with a heavy duty magnetic mount and 4M (12') cable.

LTE-HIGAIN-MAG antenna

Offering up to 5 dBi peak gain (band dependent), this antenna is ideal for mobile applications where network signal strength is variable or indeed fixed applications where a metal surface is available on which the antenna can be mounted.

The LTE-HIGAIN-MAG can be ordered online from Connex Technologies here.

If you have any questions on this antenna, please contact us. E-mail.

4G/LTE Antenna Headaches!!??

4G and LTE antennas are suddenly becoming a hot potato! Customers are increasingly asking for 4G/LTE (we will use the term 4G for the purposes of this article) frequency band support for many 2G and 3G only antenna requirements. As 4G is topical, they see the 4G support as a must. In many cases it is not required and can simply compromise the antenna solution.

Let's look at the issues from an antenna perspective:

1. Size - Wideband antennas with frequency support for 2G, 3G and 4G are much more complex to design than quad band GSM or GSM/3G antennas. Often to increase the bandwidth for wideband antennas such as blade antennas, terminal antennas, low profile antennas, there is no alternative but to increase the size of the antenna from the normal form factors seen the GSM/3G market. Small stubby antennas covering 700/800-2700 MHz are unlikely to perform across the band completely to a satisfactory level (despite what the manufacturer may claim).

2. Performance - It is a typical trade-off situation, a very wideband antenna by its nature will have compromises. Mechanically if you keep the antenna small, you will forfeit performance. By having a larger antenna (see point 1 above) you have opportunities for better performance. So to keep the same form factors as GSM/3G antennas, antenna performance will generally suffer when designing 2G/3G/4G wideband antennas.

3. Frequency - Unfortunately for us antenna suppliers, 4G does not operate at a single frequency. Unlike Euro 3G at 2100 MHz, 4G networks are already operating at 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz across Europe and LTE is operating at 700 MHz in North America. Not only does this confuse customers, it makes antenna solutions more complicated as customers and suppliers have to be very sure of the correct operational frequencies before committing to an antenna of choice.

We should realise there are going to be some technical challenges for everyone while we all acclimatise to the 4G applications and perhaps we should be prepared to accommodate our thinking in terms of form factors as we embrace wideband cellular antenna solutions.

EAD and Specialist Antennas are happy to work with customers through the maze of antenna options for multiband 2G/3G/4G applications. You can visit our websites at www.ead-ltd.com or www.specialistantennas.co.uk or contact us on +44 1280 824055. Some select 4G applications can be purchased online via our Connex Technologies website.